Sunday masses during the months of July and August will be held earlier than usual - from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. instead of the usual noontime schedule. This arrangement will be for the summer months only, and itended to allow community members to have more private time with their families on Sundays.

We also encourage community members to arrive to mass punctually, as the regular sunday service for the St. Francis of Assisi Church community will begins at 11:00 a.m.

Beginning September, Sunday masses will again revert back to the usual time of 12:00 noon.

On 9-10 May, the VESCC confirmation class conducted its Retreat Weekend in the village of Winden in the Burgenland and in the Prater. It was an opportunity to escape the routine of life in Vienna and reflect on the sacrament of Confirmation which they will receive later this month. The weekend included time for the confirmation candidates to bond as a group, reflect on their relationship with God, and also to relax (as is evident in some of the photos). On the second day of the retreat we conducted our Service Project by inviting some teenagers from a nearby refugee camp to spend the day with us in the Prater, where we took them bowling, had a picnic and played in the park.

We invite the entire community to celebrate our Confirmation with us at Mass on Sunday 31 May at the St. Francis of Assisi Church on Mexico Platz.

Nine young children from the VESCC community received their First Communion on Sunday, 26 April at the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Vienna, Austria. Fr. Kevin Soars presided over the solemn ceremonies in the presence of community members, and friends, relatives and guests of the children’s families.

A photo gallery of selected pictures is available on this site.

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – April 5

At the entrance we remember that Jesus entered Jerusalem humbly on a donkey. The children received him with loud cries of ‘Hosanna’. They can do that anew at the procession with the branches.

12:00 noon - Blessing of Branches, Procession and Mass of the Lord’s Passion – St. Francis of Assisi Church, Mexikoplatz 12. (Please bring your own palms/pussy willows if possible. (Coffee follows the mass.)

» Continue reading “Holy Week Services”

As in the past 11 years, members of VESCC community made the way of the cross by visiting 14 historical and beautiful churches in Vienna. Each church representes a Station of the Cross and prayers of the Way of the Cross are said. Explanation on the history of each church followed the prayers.

The annual Way of the Cross took place on 4 April 2009. A photo gallery, courtesy of Selestina Tjiong, is also available for viewing.

VESCC is supporting five Community charities, chosen from the various continents. During Lent we shall raise the proportion of our Sunday collection (and ongoing pledges) which will be allotted these projects from 5% to 10% each. Thus 50% of each Sunday collection during Lent is being given to charity. In addition, there are donation boxes at the entrances to the church into which you are welcome to make contributions which will be used entirely for the project of your choice.

Again the five VESCC-suported charity projects are:

• Project Father Ungar Fund-Vienna
• Project Concordia-Romania
• Project ChildHope Asia - Philippines
• Project Fe y Alegria in Jimarca, Peru; and
• Daughters of Divine Love Pro-Lefe Centre, Eha-Alumona, Africa

You may also donate through our bank account.

(Organized by friends of Fr. Cyril)

Father Cyril Desbruslais s.j. will be leading a weekend retreat for adults from late Friday, 24 April to Sunday, 26 April 2009 after lunch, at the same monastery as in previous years, the Stift Vorau in Styria (www.stift-vorau.at). The theme for this retreat can be decided during the various bible discussion meetings to be held on a weekly basis when Father Cyril is here as of 21 March.

» Continue reading “2009 Adult Weekend Retreat”

Fr. Cyril Desbruslais s.j. will lead the Bible Study on Wednesday evenings from 25 March to 13 May with the exception of 15 April, at 7:00 p.m. Meetings will take place in private homes.

In Christ There Are Many Members Yet One Body

Every year, on the first Friday of March, women throughout the world gather and hold prayer services. Women from various English-speaking churches organize this event also in Vienna. This year’s service guidelines have been prepared by Women from Papua New Guinea.

It will take place on Friday, 6 March 2009 at 9:30 a.m. in the Community Church, Dorotheergasse 16 in Vienna’s 1st district. All are very warmly welcome to come, including men. The service is followed by refreshment.

Sunday masses for the Vienna English Speaking Catholic Community (VESCC) are held 12 noon in the St. Francis of Assisi Church at Mexikoplatz, in Vienna’s 2nd district.

The St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mexikoplatz is the imposing church at the foot of the Reichsbrücke. It is easy to get to - just around the corner from the Vorgartenstrasse stop along the U1 underground line.

If you’re driving from the city centre, take the Lasalle Strasse leading to Reichsbrücke. Turn right at Vorgartenstrasse (just before reachng the bridge) and then another right to get to Mexikoplatz.

Alternatively you can also take the Handelskai street. The church will be at your left just after reaching the Reichsbrücke exit. There is ample street parking around the church and Mexikoplatz itself.

To see the map in detail, please click here.